Report Urges Focus on Religious Conservatives' Policy

The political clout of religious conservatives has been overstated,
and progressives should attack their specific policy proposals rather
than their right to participate in the political arena, advises a new
report by People for the American Way.

Most Americans "reject most of the specific policy solutions offered
by the religious right," Arthur J. Kropp, the president of the
Washington-based civil-liberties group, says in the report.

The report says most Americans are not drawn to the messages of
religious conservatives, nor do they fear their influence. But neither
are they drawn strongly to a progressive agenda.

"Ultimately, this is a fight to capture the political mainstream,"
says the report based on a survey of 1,000 Americans, titled "Winning
Through Reason, Not Fear: Meeting the Challenge of the Religious
Right."

Limited Appeal

Only three in 10 respondents said the increasing influence of
conservative religious groups was a problem. And most respondents said
they were not attracted to such groups.

On education issues, the survey found that some proposals favored by
religious conservatives have broad appeal. More than half of
respondents, for example, were more likely to support a political
candidate who favors organized classroom prayer. However, seven in 10
respondents would support a candidate who favors comprehensive sex
education.

Only one-third of respondents expressed a favorable opinion of a
hypothetical school board candidate who favors: giving parents the
power to remove textbooks, restoring religion to public schools, and
teaching abstinence in sex education.

But eight out of 10 said they would support a hypothetical candidate
whose top priority would be improving the academic performance of all
children and establishing meaningful standards.

The report urges progressives to focus on conservative opposition to
academic reforms such as outcomes-based education.

Mike Russell, a spokesman for the Christian Coalition, was skeptical
of the report's call to focus on conservatives' policy issues.

"For years, they have been trying to demonize and marginalize people
based on their faith," he said.

For information about ordering copies of the report, call or write
People for the American Way, 2000 M St., N.W., Suite 400, Washington,
D.C. 20036; (202) 467-4999.

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